2.18.2005

As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, and they said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?" Jesus said to them, "I will ask you a question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? Answer me."

And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' But shall we say, 'From men'?" -- they were afraid of the people, for all held that John was a real prophet. So they answered Jesus, "We do not know."

And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things." (Mk 11.27-33)

I realized it might be worth it to make clear the difference between Jesus' authority and the "human authority" I'm trying to avoid. This passage is a great example of the difference.

Human authority is derived from physical force, political power, or material wealth/ownership, all of which are interrelated. For example: The authority of an office or position in an organization is supported by political power, the might of all the people in that particular group, as well as their ownership of the resources of that group, and this is protected by the physical force of police. Such authority is reinforced by human-made laws and the power that human beings can muster (which is increased when they join and organize). This is the authority we see constantly in human interactions.

Jesus did not use this authority, but specifically avoided it. His authority was not backed up by human power. It did not depend on the support of the masses. It did not derive from some office or position. So the religious/political leaders of his time could not understand where his authority came from. They show where their authority comes from by how they worry over the answer that will please the people (sounding like stereotypical politicians).

Jesus' authority, in word and action, was backed up by God. God's power made the demons flee and the diseases disappear and the storms cease at Jesus' word. And God's power makes Jesus' prophecies true. And it's God's immutable truth that appears in Jesus' teachings. His authority comes from God--an authority that stays with God, keeping God God and man man, children of their Father.

But Jesus doesn't bother explaining this to the leaders. How can such authority be explained to people who only know office, position, structures, politics?